Axe likely to fall on Taylor

Ross Taylor is expected to be axed as New Zealand captain when the Black Caps' squad to tour South Africa is announced this week following a string of disappointing results, reports said Tuesday.

Coach Mike Hesson had lost faith in Taylor and was set to replace him with opener Brendon McCullum, Wellington's Dominion Post reported.

Taylor, who took over as skipper in June last year, faced heavy criticism when New Zealand threw away a commanding position and crashed to a 10-wicket defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month.

While the 28-year-old steered the Black Caps to a series-levelling win in the second Test in Colombo, scoring 142 in the first innings, the New Zealand Herald said several senior players favoured a change of leadership.